“I didn’t pay anything for Grace, I just agreed to the price”
A good friend of mine said this to me yesterday while we were talking about God's passionate love for His children. I sat there for a minute stunned by it.
Salvation costs us nothing. We can't earn it or buy it. We can't work our way into it. It's not the clothes we wear or how we talk or the type of music we listen to. It's not the version of the Bible we read or the model of church we attend. It's not the friends we keep. It's not how often we read our Bible or how often we pray. It's not how much we give to our church.
Salvation is God loving His child so much that He paid the ultimate price for me.
And for you.
Salvation left His home and became one of us. Salvation lived a perfect life. Salvation let himself be ridiculed, beaten, stripped, and brutally put to death. Salvation died hanging on two pieces of timber with large spikes driven through its hands and feet.
Salvation is God breathing life back into His Son and ressurecting Him from the grave.
Salvation is the final and glorious defeat of death.
Salvation is when I throw off the labels and the "have to's" that have captured our christian religion. Salvation is when I quit trying to learn everything and start trying to live passionately.
Salvation is when I turn away from the ugliness of my broken life. Salvation is admitting that I can't fix myself. Salvation is humbly believing and receiving all that our loving Father in Heaven did for me. Salvation is Jesus on the cross. Salvation is dedicationg the rest of my life to loving Him and doing everything in my power to be obedient to Him.
God paid a horrible price. But for me, salvation is free. My father accepts me warmly and holds me tight and welcomes me home. All heaven rejoices over just one...
Then my Father gently pulls me around and faces me back towards the world. He quietly whispers in my ear.
"Go tell them about me..."
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Christian Correctors
I thought long and hard about publishing this because the whole topic is the reason why many people avoid church. So if you’re not a Christian and you’re on my site, well, most importantly, welcome. I hope you enjoy what you find. But please skip the rest of this post. Please.
That said, here goes.
If you cruise the Christian blogging world, you find three different types of blogs. One group is “the little people.” Me. Your average guy or gal who just likes to put his or her thoughts out on the net. The other group that I’ve found is this young generation of pastors and Christian leaders. For them the blogging world is an important forum they use to minister. Unlike an old guy like me, it’s second nature to them.
The third group I’ve found is the self appointed Christian “correctors.” They bother me. Out of curiosity I spent a few days looking through some of these different sites. What I’ve found are people who slam individuals and specific churches under the disguise of propagating “truth."
But this post is not for any of them. I’m writing this for your average Christian person who’s found themselves face to face with a critic of their pastor or church. Or maybe have found one of these sites as you’ve zipped around the net. These are just my thoughts on the whole matter. And after I get this off my chest I will spend zero amount of time or energy thinking about these sites again.
And please know this also. I’m not implying that I’m sinless in this matter. I’ve made mistakes in the past when dealing with individual Christian leaders. I’ve said hurtful things. I’m human and I’m sorry.
Regardless, here are my thoughts.
I will not get into a debate about the church with anyone who speaks negatively about specific men and/or specific churches. It is ok to talk about our personal beliefs based on what the Bible teaches, but it's a sin to slander a specific person as these sites do. (Psalm 15:3, 140:11, Prov 10:18, 16:28, 30:10, Matt 15:18, Rom 1:30, 1 Cor 5:11 all define slander as being sinful. There are plenty more.)
You should repent of your sin and stop referring to specific people and specific churches.
If you feel a specific Pastor is misleading his flock and you feel an urgent need to tell them how they're outside the will of God and corrupting the church, then use the example of Paul and Peter. Paul corrected Peter face to face.
We should follow the example of Jesus. In Mark 9:38, we find the very first Christian critic, the apostle John. He comes to Christ upset because a man who was not "one of us" was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. But instead of letting John vent his frustrations, Jesus rebukes John reminding him that we're all on the same team. "Do not hinder him..."
The apostle Paul in Philippians 1:18 rejoices that the Good News of Jesus Christ is being preached regardless of whether the preachers have pure ambitions or not. Shouldn't we rejoice for that today just as Paul did? "I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice."
Scripture does not contradict itself. If we call ourselves Christians, we must follow the examples of Jesus and Paul.
Personally, I think Jesus would look us all in the eye and say, "Please quit fighting each other. There are men and women in your world who are in desperate need of eternal salvation. Go do something about it!"
That said, here goes.
If you cruise the Christian blogging world, you find three different types of blogs. One group is “the little people.” Me. Your average guy or gal who just likes to put his or her thoughts out on the net. The other group that I’ve found is this young generation of pastors and Christian leaders. For them the blogging world is an important forum they use to minister. Unlike an old guy like me, it’s second nature to them.
The third group I’ve found is the self appointed Christian “correctors.” They bother me. Out of curiosity I spent a few days looking through some of these different sites. What I’ve found are people who slam individuals and specific churches under the disguise of propagating “truth."
But this post is not for any of them. I’m writing this for your average Christian person who’s found themselves face to face with a critic of their pastor or church. Or maybe have found one of these sites as you’ve zipped around the net. These are just my thoughts on the whole matter. And after I get this off my chest I will spend zero amount of time or energy thinking about these sites again.
And please know this also. I’m not implying that I’m sinless in this matter. I’ve made mistakes in the past when dealing with individual Christian leaders. I’ve said hurtful things. I’m human and I’m sorry.
Regardless, here are my thoughts.
I will not get into a debate about the church with anyone who speaks negatively about specific men and/or specific churches. It is ok to talk about our personal beliefs based on what the Bible teaches, but it's a sin to slander a specific person as these sites do. (Psalm 15:3, 140:11, Prov 10:18, 16:28, 30:10, Matt 15:18, Rom 1:30, 1 Cor 5:11 all define slander as being sinful. There are plenty more.)
You should repent of your sin and stop referring to specific people and specific churches.
If you feel a specific Pastor is misleading his flock and you feel an urgent need to tell them how they're outside the will of God and corrupting the church, then use the example of Paul and Peter. Paul corrected Peter face to face.
We should follow the example of Jesus. In Mark 9:38, we find the very first Christian critic, the apostle John. He comes to Christ upset because a man who was not "one of us" was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. But instead of letting John vent his frustrations, Jesus rebukes John reminding him that we're all on the same team. "Do not hinder him..."
The apostle Paul in Philippians 1:18 rejoices that the Good News of Jesus Christ is being preached regardless of whether the preachers have pure ambitions or not. Shouldn't we rejoice for that today just as Paul did? "I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice."
Scripture does not contradict itself. If we call ourselves Christians, we must follow the examples of Jesus and Paul.
Personally, I think Jesus would look us all in the eye and say, "Please quit fighting each other. There are men and women in your world who are in desperate need of eternal salvation. Go do something about it!"
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Choices
Every day we wake up with the ability to make a choice…
Will we help or will we hurt? Will we encourage or will we discourage? Will we make a friend or will we make an enemy? Will we lift someone up or will we put them down?
Do you use things and people to push an agenda? Do you look with a critical eye to always find fault or do you put the needs and desires of other people first? Do you stand there with arm raised and finger pointed or do you get on your knees and serve and sacrifice and wash feet?
How about the person in your life that you just can’t seem to like? Or the one you consider an enemy? The person that gets your blood pressure rising and makes you angry. Do you pray for them? Do you give them your cloak? Do you walk the extra mile? Do you feed them? Do you give them a cup of water?
When the guilty is brought before you do you scream “Crucify them!” or do you bend down and write in the dust and the dirt to take the attention off their guilt and shame? Do you restore them? Do you cry with them? Do you love them?
Is love what drives you? Is it love that gives you direction and guidance? Do you remember the story about a love so great that it stretched it’s arm far to the east and far to the west and let itself die a painful death?
Is it this love that guides you and gives you your words before you start to speak or before you start to type?
Do you stretch out your hand with a balled fist to strike? Or are you reaching out with an open, scarred palm to touch The Way love touched a leper and spoke Truth and restored his Life…
Every day we wake up with the ability to make a choice…
Will we help or will we hurt? Will we encourage or will we discourage? Will we make a friend or will we make an enemy? Will we lift someone up or will we put them down?
Do you use things and people to push an agenda? Do you look with a critical eye to always find fault or do you put the needs and desires of other people first? Do you stand there with arm raised and finger pointed or do you get on your knees and serve and sacrifice and wash feet?
How about the person in your life that you just can’t seem to like? Or the one you consider an enemy? The person that gets your blood pressure rising and makes you angry. Do you pray for them? Do you give them your cloak? Do you walk the extra mile? Do you feed them? Do you give them a cup of water?
When the guilty is brought before you do you scream “Crucify them!” or do you bend down and write in the dust and the dirt to take the attention off their guilt and shame? Do you restore them? Do you cry with them? Do you love them?
Is love what drives you? Is it love that gives you direction and guidance? Do you remember the story about a love so great that it stretched it’s arm far to the east and far to the west and let itself die a painful death?
Is it this love that guides you and gives you your words before you start to speak or before you start to type?
Do you stretch out your hand with a balled fist to strike? Or are you reaching out with an open, scarred palm to touch The Way love touched a leper and spoke Truth and restored his Life…
Every day we wake up with the ability to make a choice…
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Paying the Price
This is sort of a post about finances and it’s sort of not.
I was talking with a good friend yesterday about money. As we talked, I thought about how difficult it’s been to continue on this “debt-free” journey. My family has been committed to this process for over three years now. And it’s exhausting. Marybeth and I have to communicate about money every day – “what did you spend, what do the kids need, how much is left for this, do we have the money to repair that…” and on and on it goes. It’s a continual grind that wears me out.
The external pressures are just as bad. There’s always something I want to buy that I have to say “no” to. A new CD or new clothes or home improvement items. And people make fun of your belief about managing money and of your lifestyle. I drive a used minivan. (It was the practical, kid friendly purchase.) When we sell our house and move, it won’t be to a big, new, expensive home. (Not that those are bad, it’s something that we can’t afford to do.) I’ve had good Christian men tell me to my face that I’m wrong and felt the loneliness of being labeled “different then most.”
One thing I’ve learned through the process of transforming our finances is this. Being obedient to the things God calls you to do always costs you something. Every single time.
I started this post to encourage those of you who are committed to seeing something through. God has given you a monumental task that you have been grinding away at for years. There are or will be days that you feel like you’re stuck deep in the mud. You can’t seem to gain any traction. It doesn’t feel like you’re making any progress. I’m familiar with those days.
Remember this. Nothing good can be achieved without a lot of hard work. Keep pressing on to complete the task. There will come a day when the critics look to you and ask, “How in the world did he do that?”
I was talking with a good friend yesterday about money. As we talked, I thought about how difficult it’s been to continue on this “debt-free” journey. My family has been committed to this process for over three years now. And it’s exhausting. Marybeth and I have to communicate about money every day – “what did you spend, what do the kids need, how much is left for this, do we have the money to repair that…” and on and on it goes. It’s a continual grind that wears me out.
The external pressures are just as bad. There’s always something I want to buy that I have to say “no” to. A new CD or new clothes or home improvement items. And people make fun of your belief about managing money and of your lifestyle. I drive a used minivan. (It was the practical, kid friendly purchase.) When we sell our house and move, it won’t be to a big, new, expensive home. (Not that those are bad, it’s something that we can’t afford to do.) I’ve had good Christian men tell me to my face that I’m wrong and felt the loneliness of being labeled “different then most.”
One thing I’ve learned through the process of transforming our finances is this. Being obedient to the things God calls you to do always costs you something. Every single time.
I started this post to encourage those of you who are committed to seeing something through. God has given you a monumental task that you have been grinding away at for years. There are or will be days that you feel like you’re stuck deep in the mud. You can’t seem to gain any traction. It doesn’t feel like you’re making any progress. I’m familiar with those days.
Remember this. Nothing good can be achieved without a lot of hard work. Keep pressing on to complete the task. There will come a day when the critics look to you and ask, “How in the world did he do that?”
Monday, August 27, 2007
An Invitation
Pastor announced yesterday that because of the growth our church has had over the past year, we will begin meeting at an additional location. Starting September 23rd, Elevation will also be meeting at Butler High School in Matthews. (Service times to be announced soon.)
Marybeth and I made the decision to commit to that location. Butler is closer to our home, our oldest is in school there, and we've always been "Matthews kind of people." I wanted to personally invite anyone who reads this who might be looking for a church home to come visit. We'd enjoy getting to meet you.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Casting Crowns - East To West (Live) from Altar and the Door
This is an amazing song. I challenge you to listen carefully to the words. Jesus saves us from our past...
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Living My Life
I've been a Christian for many years now. Looking back I can see many different phases of how I've lived my life. What's been on my mind lately is how much we Christians seem to judge each other. Or we try to force one another to think the way we think or to do what we do. We get so caught up in arguing about methods. We forget that there is a lost, hurting world crying out for our attention. The need to share the hope we have in Christ is bigger and more important then any of our arguements.
I wonder what kind of impact the church could make if all the time spent arguing and finding ways of picking apart the "target pastor of the week" was spent preaching the message of the Gospel to the lost and the hopeless.
Pastor mentioned the sermon on the mount last Sunday which inspired me to read it. As I was going over Matthew 5, I realized that seven of the nine "Blessed are..." comments Jesus makes are inner conditions that I can choose to pursue or not pursue. Jesus is asking me to interact with others with these thoughts in mind:
Blessed are the poor in spirit...
Blessed are those who mourn...
Blessed are the gentle...
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...
Blessed are the merciful...
Blessed are the pure in heart...
Blessed are the peacemakers...
Jesus goes on to mentions two more "blessed are" comments warning me that men will persecute me if I choose to live as he describes. He calls the persecution a blessing, but it's not one I can choose. Those blessings come because of the actions of other people.
After reading through this passage, I realized how these seven inner conditions are interelated with the fruits of the spirit in Galations 5:22,23. Choosing to focus on my inner condition will produce love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control.
These things don't come naturally for me. I am a sinful human being with thoughts and actions far different then what Jesus and Paul describe. But I can choose each day what I will try to become. Will I be led by my flesh or will I be led by my spirit? Will I be gentle or allow outbursts of anger? Will I be a peacemaker or will I cause disputes and dissensions. Will I be merciful or will I act with jealousy and envy in my heart?
What kind of person will I be when I interact with a non-believer? Or when I interact with another Christian? What does Jesus say about it? Will I allow my flesh to dictate my actions or will I listen to God's spirit in my heart?
The choice is mine.
I wonder what kind of impact the church could make if all the time spent arguing and finding ways of picking apart the "target pastor of the week" was spent preaching the message of the Gospel to the lost and the hopeless.
Pastor mentioned the sermon on the mount last Sunday which inspired me to read it. As I was going over Matthew 5, I realized that seven of the nine "Blessed are..." comments Jesus makes are inner conditions that I can choose to pursue or not pursue. Jesus is asking me to interact with others with these thoughts in mind:
Blessed are the poor in spirit...
Blessed are those who mourn...
Blessed are the gentle...
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...
Blessed are the merciful...
Blessed are the pure in heart...
Blessed are the peacemakers...
Jesus goes on to mentions two more "blessed are" comments warning me that men will persecute me if I choose to live as he describes. He calls the persecution a blessing, but it's not one I can choose. Those blessings come because of the actions of other people.
After reading through this passage, I realized how these seven inner conditions are interelated with the fruits of the spirit in Galations 5:22,23. Choosing to focus on my inner condition will produce love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control.
These things don't come naturally for me. I am a sinful human being with thoughts and actions far different then what Jesus and Paul describe. But I can choose each day what I will try to become. Will I be led by my flesh or will I be led by my spirit? Will I be gentle or allow outbursts of anger? Will I be a peacemaker or will I cause disputes and dissensions. Will I be merciful or will I act with jealousy and envy in my heart?
What kind of person will I be when I interact with a non-believer? Or when I interact with another Christian? What does Jesus say about it? Will I allow my flesh to dictate my actions or will I listen to God's spirit in my heart?
The choice is mine.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Please Make It Stop
Here's some honesty for you. Yesterday couldn't end fast enough. "Murphy" was waiting around every corner with a 2 by 4.
It started with some job issues in the a.m. (I won't bore you with the details.) Then mid-morning, I was meeting Marybeth to get food for the lunch for the family of the friend who passed away Sunday. As we were transferring the food, her Suburban died in the Chick-fil-A parking lot. We had to take her car to a repair shop on the way to the church.
The funural was at 1 p.m. and it was tough. Our friend Tom was a believer and is in Heaven, but I cried watching his wife and young boys walk in the service. I cried because of their future and because they have to grow up fatherless. I cried because it didn't make sense and because I was angry at God for letting something horrible happen that I didn't understand. (Just being honest.) I cried because we live in a world full of suffering and death while our hearts ache for everlasting love and laughter and happiness and peace.
The funeral was tough for another reason as well. I'm embarrased to even mention it in light of what was going on. Being back at the church where the funeral was held brought up a personal struggle from my past. Something that's very hard for me to think or talk about. And although I was the one who made a poor choice, I still struggle with the memories of that time and being the subject of the rumors.
I know... that's very insignificant in light of a father's death. But there was a voice in my ear all afternoon trying to remind me of things I used to feel about myself. It took a lot of emotional strength to fight it off and look everyone in the eye.
All that said, it was very nice to see old friends again and to see the impact an emerging church in Charlotte is making. (31 people gave their lives to Christ at the funeral.)
Now back to the car. Right before the service I got a call and found out that the repair I thought would be a couple of hundred had turned into $650. A bad radiator hose was actually a bad radiator. And to top it off, after paying and driving off, I realized that the air conditioning in the car wasn't working. It had been fine when we dropped it off, but the repair shop is claiming that they couldn't have done anything to damage it. They now have my money and my still-broken car. All I can do is threaten them to get it back to the condition it was in before they started messing with it.
The rest of the day was pretty "normal" and by 10 I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open to read. I fell asleep praying that God would forgive my anger, help me see how far the "East is from the West" (thank you Casting Crowns, it's one of the best songs I've ever heard), praying for Tom's wife and boys, and asking for a good night's sleep.
I woke this morning at 4 and couldn't go back to sleep. I started reading a book I have on the Revolutionary War (my favorite time in history.) Much is on my mind as I think about my job changes, the beginning of a new school year, car problems, trying to sell a (small!) home, personal struggles, and finances. It seems lately like we're taking one financial step forward then then two steps back.
Well, if you made it this far, thanks for listening to a middle aged father who's dealing with the up's and down's of life.
It started with some job issues in the a.m. (I won't bore you with the details.) Then mid-morning, I was meeting Marybeth to get food for the lunch for the family of the friend who passed away Sunday. As we were transferring the food, her Suburban died in the Chick-fil-A parking lot. We had to take her car to a repair shop on the way to the church.
The funural was at 1 p.m. and it was tough. Our friend Tom was a believer and is in Heaven, but I cried watching his wife and young boys walk in the service. I cried because of their future and because they have to grow up fatherless. I cried because it didn't make sense and because I was angry at God for letting something horrible happen that I didn't understand. (Just being honest.) I cried because we live in a world full of suffering and death while our hearts ache for everlasting love and laughter and happiness and peace.
The funeral was tough for another reason as well. I'm embarrased to even mention it in light of what was going on. Being back at the church where the funeral was held brought up a personal struggle from my past. Something that's very hard for me to think or talk about. And although I was the one who made a poor choice, I still struggle with the memories of that time and being the subject of the rumors.
I know... that's very insignificant in light of a father's death. But there was a voice in my ear all afternoon trying to remind me of things I used to feel about myself. It took a lot of emotional strength to fight it off and look everyone in the eye.
All that said, it was very nice to see old friends again and to see the impact an emerging church in Charlotte is making. (31 people gave their lives to Christ at the funeral.)
Now back to the car. Right before the service I got a call and found out that the repair I thought would be a couple of hundred had turned into $650. A bad radiator hose was actually a bad radiator. And to top it off, after paying and driving off, I realized that the air conditioning in the car wasn't working. It had been fine when we dropped it off, but the repair shop is claiming that they couldn't have done anything to damage it. They now have my money and my still-broken car. All I can do is threaten them to get it back to the condition it was in before they started messing with it.
The rest of the day was pretty "normal" and by 10 I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open to read. I fell asleep praying that God would forgive my anger, help me see how far the "East is from the West" (thank you Casting Crowns, it's one of the best songs I've ever heard), praying for Tom's wife and boys, and asking for a good night's sleep.
I woke this morning at 4 and couldn't go back to sleep. I started reading a book I have on the Revolutionary War (my favorite time in history.) Much is on my mind as I think about my job changes, the beginning of a new school year, car problems, trying to sell a (small!) home, personal struggles, and finances. It seems lately like we're taking one financial step forward then then two steps back.
Well, if you made it this far, thanks for listening to a middle aged father who's dealing with the up's and down's of life.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Numbers
I had this really cool post that I was going to write today about being like Nehemiah and building walls for God. Then I read this and changed my mind. I had two thoughts.
The thing I like most about our church is that more and more people are discovering Christ. The numbers keep getting bigger. I’m sort of a math guy, and the cool thing about a big number is that it can be broken down into smaller parts. Matter of fact, every big number is a combination of multiple one’s (1’s). Every big number couldn’t be big without all the little parts. Our big church has a lot of little people. And every, single stinking person, including myself, has an individual story that brings glory and honor and praise to God. I know personally someone who started going to our church over the last few months. This person spent years struggling with life and running from God. But a few weeks ago, this individual became part of the body of Christ. This person repented, made a decision to follow Jesus, and prayed the prayer.
Glory to God for this person who's now part of a big dang church in Charlotte, NC.
By the way, the body of Christ is a HUGE number. Isn’t that a great thing?
The second thing that I wanted to say is this. It’s sinful to get on a blog or shoot out an email and speak negatively about other Christians. I don’t care how good you think your intentions are or how right you think you are, it is unbiblical. Paul makes this very clear in Romans 14:4. If you’re a Christian and you find yourself on a site such as this or this , run away as fast as you can before you become negative and bitter and forget the joy and hope that our salvation should bring.
As Paul says in Romans 14:13 and 19, “Let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall... Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Nuff said. Amen.
The thing I like most about our church is that more and more people are discovering Christ. The numbers keep getting bigger. I’m sort of a math guy, and the cool thing about a big number is that it can be broken down into smaller parts. Matter of fact, every big number is a combination of multiple one’s (1’s). Every big number couldn’t be big without all the little parts. Our big church has a lot of little people. And every, single stinking person, including myself, has an individual story that brings glory and honor and praise to God. I know personally someone who started going to our church over the last few months. This person spent years struggling with life and running from God. But a few weeks ago, this individual became part of the body of Christ. This person repented, made a decision to follow Jesus, and prayed the prayer.
Glory to God for this person who's now part of a big dang church in Charlotte, NC.
By the way, the body of Christ is a HUGE number. Isn’t that a great thing?
The second thing that I wanted to say is this. It’s sinful to get on a blog or shoot out an email and speak negatively about other Christians. I don’t care how good you think your intentions are or how right you think you are, it is unbiblical. Paul makes this very clear in Romans 14:4. If you’re a Christian and you find yourself on a site such as this or this , run away as fast as you can before you become negative and bitter and forget the joy and hope that our salvation should bring.
As Paul says in Romans 14:13 and 19, “Let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall... Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Nuff said. Amen.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
No Holding Back
I've made a decision. No more holding back. What I mean by this is that I've spent most of my life intimidated by Christians who seemed to know more, live "better", or have nicer stuff then I do.
But like I said... no more.
There's a catalyst for this change. A heartbreaking one. I found out yesterday morning that a friend, a man that I've been in a small group with, a homeschooling father of four young boys, had a massive heart attack and died Sunday evening. His youngest is 6 and his oldest is 11. He was a great dad and was constantly smiling and laughing with his kids. I've been in pain all day thinking about his wife and children. It's sad and also scary. That could easily be me.
We can be called out of this world so quickly that we don't even get to say goodbye.
Not even goodbye...
There are times in life when I'm reminded that I need to capture every day, every hour, yes, every minute. I should live with a passion that only comes from knowing that life could end tomorrow. I should make my wife feel like the most important person in the world. I should love on my kids every chance I get. I should help those in need. I should reach out to the lost and the lonely. I should laugh and play while there is time. I should share with everyone how Christ saved me from a life of sin. I should tell others of his patience as he teaches me to be the man He designed me to be. (Work in progress.)
Intimidation is from Satan. I won't live with it any longer. I'm going to quit apologizing for what I believe and why I believe it. I'm going to love others and pray for those who persecute me, while standing firm in Biblical truth. Don't come to me with your opinion. Give me book, chapter, and verse. For example, don't tell me that I should use debt wisely to build wealth. Where the heck is that in the Bible? Quit telling me that people who are "cultured" use debt to make money. The Bible says the exact opposite.
No holding back. No more apologies. I only get one chance with my wife. I only get one chance with my sons. I only get one chance with my daughters. I only get one chance with my neighbor. I only get one chance with my friends.
I'm going to make it count.
But like I said... no more.
There's a catalyst for this change. A heartbreaking one. I found out yesterday morning that a friend, a man that I've been in a small group with, a homeschooling father of four young boys, had a massive heart attack and died Sunday evening. His youngest is 6 and his oldest is 11. He was a great dad and was constantly smiling and laughing with his kids. I've been in pain all day thinking about his wife and children. It's sad and also scary. That could easily be me.
We can be called out of this world so quickly that we don't even get to say goodbye.
Not even goodbye...
There are times in life when I'm reminded that I need to capture every day, every hour, yes, every minute. I should live with a passion that only comes from knowing that life could end tomorrow. I should make my wife feel like the most important person in the world. I should love on my kids every chance I get. I should help those in need. I should reach out to the lost and the lonely. I should laugh and play while there is time. I should share with everyone how Christ saved me from a life of sin. I should tell others of his patience as he teaches me to be the man He designed me to be. (Work in progress.)
Intimidation is from Satan. I won't live with it any longer. I'm going to quit apologizing for what I believe and why I believe it. I'm going to love others and pray for those who persecute me, while standing firm in Biblical truth. Don't come to me with your opinion. Give me book, chapter, and verse. For example, don't tell me that I should use debt wisely to build wealth. Where the heck is that in the Bible? Quit telling me that people who are "cultured" use debt to make money. The Bible says the exact opposite.
No holding back. No more apologies. I only get one chance with my wife. I only get one chance with my sons. I only get one chance with my daughters. I only get one chance with my neighbor. I only get one chance with my friends.
I'm going to make it count.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Cool Quote
"Our past can be a rudder that guides you, or an anchor that holds you back and hinders you."
Do the mistakes of your past haunt you? Who do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you think about yourself? What does God really think about you? Are you scared of asking those questions?
Do the mistakes of your past haunt you? Who do you see when you look in the mirror? What do you think about yourself? What does God really think about you? Are you scared of asking those questions?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Buying A Home
In my last post, I mentioned that there are different opinions concerning home mortgages. I focused on zero interest ARM loans, a very dangerous option for your typical home buyer.
I'm no expert. I don't have a finance degree. I graduated with a BSEE. All I can do is tell you what Marybeth and I think. And for the record, we're not wealthy and don't have an impressive portfolio. We're just a husband and wife who are trying our hardest to raise a family and help others by passing along the lessons we've learned from the mistakes we've made.
And there have been plenty of mistakes.
Our first was trying to buy a home too soon. We had people telling us that we were wasting our money on rent and that buying our first home was an important part of building wealth. And while this was technically true, Marybeth and I had no appreciation for the financial "foundation" we needed before taking on the responsibility of home ownership. We were given most of the down payment which robbed us of the opportunity to develop financial discipline by having to save for it. We didn't have the emergency fund we would need to pay for the repairs that come with owning a home. And we didn't have a realistic budget that accounted for all the hidden costs that come up when you own a home. All this led to a young couple who "owned" a home but who were sinking deeper and deeper into debt.
If I had it to do all over again I would have rented cheap, built up an emergency fund, saved up 20 percent for a down payment, and have taken out a 15 year, fixed rate loan.
So now fast forward to the present. Marybeth and I are facing the home purchase question again. We love our home, but 8 people have been living in 2,000 square feet for a long time. We need to move! And here are the things we're thinking.
Most importantly, we're trying not to overpurchase. The consistent problem with most of the couples that I've helped has been a strained budget due to a house payment that's to big a percentage of their monthly income. We do need a lot of space. We do want to be able to do things like entertain and host small groups. But we know we also have to be practical. We've drawn a line in the sand and said, "we can't buy anything that's more then this!"
That's the hardest part. I love looking at houses and can get carried away with the "cool" stuff you see. My mind says things like, "You work hard and have sacrificed for years. You deserve that extra 500 square feet or that golf course view." Buying to much house is my potential for making the biggest mistake.
We've also put this move off until we paid off our debts, have money in an emergency fund, and money for 5 percent down. We'll take out a 30 year fixed rate loan. This isn't what you hear Dave Ramsey say. But it's the best we can do given the number of kids we have and the size house we need. I chalk it up as one of the sacrifices we have to make because of our decision to have such a large family. But because of the lessons we've learned in the past, we're being very cautious and conservative as we move forward.
So that's our approach. Its not very fancy and not ideal. But we're trying to be wise with our money and our decision. I want our home to be a joyous place and not a financial burdon that I worry about every day. I want a sanctuary for our kids to always come home to. I want them to be able to bring their friends. I want our home filled with laughter. I want to be able to lay my head down at night feeling the peacefulness that only Godly wisdom can bring.
I'm no expert. I don't have a finance degree. I graduated with a BSEE. All I can do is tell you what Marybeth and I think. And for the record, we're not wealthy and don't have an impressive portfolio. We're just a husband and wife who are trying our hardest to raise a family and help others by passing along the lessons we've learned from the mistakes we've made.
And there have been plenty of mistakes.
Our first was trying to buy a home too soon. We had people telling us that we were wasting our money on rent and that buying our first home was an important part of building wealth. And while this was technically true, Marybeth and I had no appreciation for the financial "foundation" we needed before taking on the responsibility of home ownership. We were given most of the down payment which robbed us of the opportunity to develop financial discipline by having to save for it. We didn't have the emergency fund we would need to pay for the repairs that come with owning a home. And we didn't have a realistic budget that accounted for all the hidden costs that come up when you own a home. All this led to a young couple who "owned" a home but who were sinking deeper and deeper into debt.
If I had it to do all over again I would have rented cheap, built up an emergency fund, saved up 20 percent for a down payment, and have taken out a 15 year, fixed rate loan.
So now fast forward to the present. Marybeth and I are facing the home purchase question again. We love our home, but 8 people have been living in 2,000 square feet for a long time. We need to move! And here are the things we're thinking.
Most importantly, we're trying not to overpurchase. The consistent problem with most of the couples that I've helped has been a strained budget due to a house payment that's to big a percentage of their monthly income. We do need a lot of space. We do want to be able to do things like entertain and host small groups. But we know we also have to be practical. We've drawn a line in the sand and said, "we can't buy anything that's more then this!"
That's the hardest part. I love looking at houses and can get carried away with the "cool" stuff you see. My mind says things like, "You work hard and have sacrificed for years. You deserve that extra 500 square feet or that golf course view." Buying to much house is my potential for making the biggest mistake.
We've also put this move off until we paid off our debts, have money in an emergency fund, and money for 5 percent down. We'll take out a 30 year fixed rate loan. This isn't what you hear Dave Ramsey say. But it's the best we can do given the number of kids we have and the size house we need. I chalk it up as one of the sacrifices we have to make because of our decision to have such a large family. But because of the lessons we've learned in the past, we're being very cautious and conservative as we move forward.
So that's our approach. Its not very fancy and not ideal. But we're trying to be wise with our money and our decision. I want our home to be a joyous place and not a financial burdon that I worry about every day. I want a sanctuary for our kids to always come home to. I want them to be able to bring their friends. I want our home filled with laughter. I want to be able to lay my head down at night feeling the peacefulness that only Godly wisdom can bring.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Interest Only Mortgage Loans
If you're considering buying a house or if you currently have an adjustable rate mortgage, especially those with an interest-only ARM, pay attention.
For years now, I've had "discussions" with different financial advisors about whether interest only mortgage loans are a good tool that your average homeowner can use to build wealth. In a nutshell, those that argue for these types of loans sell the benefit of taking out an interest only loan on a home at a low rate (4%) and using the money that you now have freed up to invest into something with a higher return (12% for example.) The arguement is that you're "winning" because your money is working for you making a 12% return on your investment vs. paying out 4% on a loan. Additionally, your new home increases in value over time, providing you with more and more equity.
Who wouldn't want that kind of free monay? It sounds like a great plan doesn't it?
Wrong. It's a horrible idea - and here's why.
First off, the 12% yield you think you're getting from a mutual fund really isn't 12% after you adjust for taxes and risk. It's more like 8-9%. And interest rates are close to the lowest they've ever been, with only one way to adjust. (Up!) The initial 4% interest rate on the ARM loan will soon jump to 5% and then even higher. In other words, you're not making the kind of money in a practical sense that you were told you would make.
But as discouraging as this sounds to the person considering one of these loans, it isn't the real danger.
I'm starting to see more and more news articles about changes in the home market nationwide. Interest rates are rising and home values are falling. Just this morning I read an article that quoted a study that stated that an estimated one million homeowners with interest-only loans will default in the next 16 months. This representing $325 billion worth of loans. The home owner finds himself paying more per month because of the higher rate, and in many cases discovers that he can't afford the new payment. He thinks he can sell the home to get out of the loan, but with the combination of his low downpayment when he took the loan, no money having been paid against the principle, and dropping home values, he either can't sell the home and faces forclosurer, or has to sell at a loss and owes the lender thousands of dollars.
Christopher Thornberg, a principal with Beacon Economics, a consulting firm that has followed real estate market's ups and downs, states, "Those loans are begging to blow up. This is a true financial crisis."
The conditions have deteriorated so much that Angelo Mozilo, chief executive of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., recently described the current real estate slump as the worst since the Depression ended nearly 70 years ago.
I never want to sound like an alarmist. But this is a big, hairy, scary deal. Just this past week, the sub-prime mortgage business had a significant negative impact on our national and global economy. All economic indicaters point to the interest-only ARM loan issue having an even deeper impact. It's time that we quit listening to people who play shell games with our money or who promise us quick, easy ways to get rich.
A home can be a blessing, but we need to quit trying to be "smart" and start being wise. Marybeth and I are in the process of buying a new home and in my next post I'll explain how we're deciding on what and how much to buy.
For years now, I've had "discussions" with different financial advisors about whether interest only mortgage loans are a good tool that your average homeowner can use to build wealth. In a nutshell, those that argue for these types of loans sell the benefit of taking out an interest only loan on a home at a low rate (4%) and using the money that you now have freed up to invest into something with a higher return (12% for example.) The arguement is that you're "winning" because your money is working for you making a 12% return on your investment vs. paying out 4% on a loan. Additionally, your new home increases in value over time, providing you with more and more equity.
Who wouldn't want that kind of free monay? It sounds like a great plan doesn't it?
Wrong. It's a horrible idea - and here's why.
First off, the 12% yield you think you're getting from a mutual fund really isn't 12% after you adjust for taxes and risk. It's more like 8-9%. And interest rates are close to the lowest they've ever been, with only one way to adjust. (Up!) The initial 4% interest rate on the ARM loan will soon jump to 5% and then even higher. In other words, you're not making the kind of money in a practical sense that you were told you would make.
But as discouraging as this sounds to the person considering one of these loans, it isn't the real danger.
I'm starting to see more and more news articles about changes in the home market nationwide. Interest rates are rising and home values are falling. Just this morning I read an article that quoted a study that stated that an estimated one million homeowners with interest-only loans will default in the next 16 months. This representing $325 billion worth of loans. The home owner finds himself paying more per month because of the higher rate, and in many cases discovers that he can't afford the new payment. He thinks he can sell the home to get out of the loan, but with the combination of his low downpayment when he took the loan, no money having been paid against the principle, and dropping home values, he either can't sell the home and faces forclosurer, or has to sell at a loss and owes the lender thousands of dollars.
Christopher Thornberg, a principal with Beacon Economics, a consulting firm that has followed real estate market's ups and downs, states, "Those loans are begging to blow up. This is a true financial crisis."
The conditions have deteriorated so much that Angelo Mozilo, chief executive of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., recently described the current real estate slump as the worst since the Depression ended nearly 70 years ago.
I never want to sound like an alarmist. But this is a big, hairy, scary deal. Just this past week, the sub-prime mortgage business had a significant negative impact on our national and global economy. All economic indicaters point to the interest-only ARM loan issue having an even deeper impact. It's time that we quit listening to people who play shell games with our money or who promise us quick, easy ways to get rich.
A home can be a blessing, but we need to quit trying to be "smart" and start being wise. Marybeth and I are in the process of buying a new home and in my next post I'll explain how we're deciding on what and how much to buy.
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